Established Subfields of Psychology.pptx

Psychology has expanded over the last 100 years.

1. Subfields in Psychology Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior in both human and animal subjects. It is multifaceted, with a broad range of subfields. Those who study psychology can pursue a variety of occupations and programs.  

2. Clinical Psychology Those in the clinical psychology subfield focus on research based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of those with severe mental disorders, including psychopathology. Clinical psychology applies psychological principles to assessment, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of these various mental disorders. Duties include psychological testing , interviewing, and therapy

3. Counseling Psychology Patients who are suffering through stressful moments in life could be advised to see a counseling psychologist. Counseling psychologists treat patients who are experiencing an emotional strain caused by social or physical factors. This differs from clinical psychologists, who treat and diagnose patients with mental disorders. Marriage and grief counselors would be considered part of counseling psychology. The counselors assess patients and then advise them with a personalized plan to improving their well-being and decreasing stress.

4. Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology studies abnormal or atypical behavior of individuals. Some very commonly studied abnormalities include schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and mood disorders . Abnormal psychology dedicated to patients who display abnormal behavior or thinking. Abnormal behavior is considered conduct that doesn’t comply with societal norms, which can include mental illnesses such as bulimia or schizophrenia. Psychologists in this field try to understand what causes unusual behaviors in people, whether it stems from a biological origin (nature) or learned through experiences (nurture).

5. Developmental Psychology Developmental psychology is the study of human behavior and change across the lifespan. One major theme of developmental psychology is the nature-nurture debate: How our genetic inheritance interacts with our experiences to shape our development . Developmental psychologists have helped us better understand how people mature over the course of their lives, both emotionally and physically, studying human development from birth until old age. Specifically, psychologists take an in-depth look at biological growth of the body, cognitive expansion and emotional maturity, among other areas of study.

6. Cognitive Psychology The field of cognitive psychology studies mental processes including memory, language, attention, sensation, creativity, learning, consciousness, and problem solving. How these various mental processes impact human behavior is the focus of cognitive psychology . Concerned with mental processes, cognitive psychologists study the human thought process and how people obtain, process, and store information in the brain. These psychologists conduct experiments and research to study memory, perception, and learning. They work to better understand the mind and find solutions to memory loss, learning disabilities, and other cognitive issues.

7. Educational Psychology Educational psychologists study factors that impact learning, including learning methods and how information is processed and absorbed. Memory, concepts, and individual differences all affect how a person learns. In researching these processes, psychologists apply theories of human development to better understand how to improve the instructional process

8. Experimental Psychology Experimental psychologists conduct investigations into basic psychological processes, such as attention, perception, memory, and reasoning. Arguably, many psychologists could be considered experimental in that research impacts much of this field. However, the sole mission of experimental psychologists is conducting and publishing research on either human or animal behaviors. Their findings often contribute to work across many branches and builds on a larger conclusion.

9. Social Psychology Social psychology is the study of individuals’ beliefs, thoughts, behaviors, intentions, and goals and their effects on social interactions with others. Topics covered in social psychology include the self, self-esteem, prejudice and discrimination, group processes, social influence, aggression, and stereotypes . Social psychologists strive to understand individual behaviors and personalities within a social context. Psychologists in this branch study the social factors that influence how people act and the condition in which those actions occur. Most social psychologists research and observe social influence, group processes, prejudice or discrimination, and stereotypes. Over the years, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS have helped better the understanding of people’s attitudes, willingness to conform to a group, and social decision-making.

10. Personality Psychology Personality psychologists work to explain why people display certain types of behavior, such as aggression, and study the differences between disorders. Psychologists in this branch study individual differences in personality characteristics, such as conscientiousness, as well as how personality characteristics interact to create a personality. Additionally, personality psychologists study the influence of expressed genes and how that affects personality. Although mainly working in research, they can provide treatment to people with personality disorders.

11. School Psychology Creating a safe and healthy school environment is the goal of every school psychologist. These psychologists focus on helping find the best environment for student learning as well as helping teachers or students find their optimal learning space. They study social, behavioral, emotional, and academic factors to find the best situation for students. They also conduct research on the best practices for school policy and make recommendations for school administrators to adopt.

12. Forensic Psychology Forensic psychology is an applied field that deals with the interaction between law and psychology. Those who pursue careers in this field may work in prisons, jails, rehabilitation centers, law firms, etc. Forensic psychologists work in the intersection of the legal system and the field of psychology. They often conduct evaluations and research that help guide legal proceedings. This can include evaluating a defendant for competency to stand trial or helping train police officers and first responders on how to properly handle criminals and crime scenes. While many forensic psychologists work within the legal system, some work in threat assessment, which is the scientific approximation of whether a person will become a threat in the future.

13. Health Psychology The field of health psychology covers how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness. Health psychologists use the interaction of these factors to promote healthy behavior and illness prevention. In 1977, George L. Engel developed the biopsychosocial model, or the idea that biological, psychological, and social factors influence disease and illness. In time, this has become the model used by health psychologists to study how and why people get sick. These psychologists help people make choices that have a positive impact on their health, as well as that of their families and communities. Their patients range from those with genetic disorders to substance abuse issues

14. Human Factors Psychology Human factors psychologists use research to improve transportation, consumer products, telecommunication, technology – nearly anything and any system with which humans interact. Their goal is to create safer and more effective systems by better understanding people’s expectations and how they interact with products and technology. These psychologists conduct research and consult with companies on how to ensure a safe working environment for employees.

15. Industrial – Organizational Psychology Industrial/Organizational psychology is characterized by the study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace. I/O psychologists address problems in the workplace, implement training programs, assess market strategies, and optimize the quality of work life. Industrial-Organizational Psychology, also known as I/O psychology, serves to study how human behavior impacts industry and organizations. I/O psychologists evaluate a work situation and develop a plan for the optimal performance and work-life balance in that situation for the employees. I/O psychologists specialize in designing and executing research done on workplace setups as well as studying decision-making theories

16. Sports Psychology Sports psychologists help athletes achieve optimal performance on the field. Psychologists in this subset study how sports affect human psychology and vice versa. In applied settings, sports psychologists work with athletes (from youth to adults), parents, coaches, and more regarding injuries and rehabilitation, positive communication, and team building

17. Behavioral Psychology Psychologists who study the connection between the mind and subsequent behaviors are behavioral psychologists. Behavioral psychologists counsel, diagnose and treat patients with behavioral disorders. By better understanding behaviors, the psychologists hope to better predict how people will behave in different situations. Behavioral psychologists study how habits form in people, and how the mind plays a role in a physical response.